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Macbeth: Tragedy Or Satire?

William Shakespeare wrote four great tragedies, the last of which
was written in 1606 and titled Macbeth. This "tragedy", as it is considered
by societal critics of yesterday's literary world, scrutinizes the evil
dimension of conflict, offering a dark and gloomy atmosphere of a world
dominated by the powers ofdarkness. Macbeth, more so than any of
Shakespeare's other tragic protagonists, has to face the powers and
decide:
should he succumb or should he resist? Macbeth understands the reasons for
resisting evil and yet he proceeds with a disastrous plan, instigated by the
prophecies of the three Weird Sisters. Thus we must ask the question:

If Macbeth is acting on the impulses stimulated by the prophecies of his fate,
is this Shakespearean work of art really a Tragedy?

Aristotle, one of the greatest men in the history of human thought,
interpreted Tragedy as a genre aimed to present a heightened and
harmonious imitation of nature, and, in particular, those aspects of nature
that touch most closely upon human life. This I think Macbeth attains.
However, Aristotle adds a few conditions.

According to Aristotle, a tragedy must have six parts: plot, character,
diction, thought, spectacle, and song. Most important is the plot, the
structure of the incidents. Tragedy is not an imitation of men, but of
action and life. It is by men's actions that they acquire happiness or
sadness. Aristotle stated, in response to Plato, that tragedy produces a
healthful effect on the human character through a katharsis, a "proper
purgation" of "pity and terror." A successful tragedy, then, exploits and
appeals at the start to two basic emotions: fear and pity. Tragedy deals
with the element of evil, with what we least want and most fear to face,
and with what is destructive to human life and values. It also draws out
our ability to sympathize with the tragic character, feeling some of the
impact of the evil...